caneers 


IC-NRLF 


B    3    315    ISh 


Don  C.  Seitz 


THE    BUCCANEERS 


The  Buccaneers 

R  o  u  a  A    Ve  r  s  e 


By  Don  C.  Seitz 


vvitn  frontispiece 
and  decorations  ly 
Howard  Pyle 


".    .    .    of  Schooners,  Islands  and 
Maroons  and   Buccaneers  .    .    ." 
— Robert  Louis  Stevenson 


Harder    &    Brothers    Publishers 
New  Yorl  and  London 

1912 


COPYRIGHT,    1911.    1912.    BY    HARPER   ft    BROTHERS 

PRINTED   IN   THE    UNITED   STATES   OF   AMERICA 

PUBLISHED   OCTOBER.    1912 


K-M 


TO 
WILLIAM    WIRT    K1MBALL 

REAR-ADMIRAL.  U.S.  N. 


263676 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Invitation .     .,     .  3 

Credo 4 

When  Henry  Morgan  Sails 5 

Porto  Bello 7 

Panama 10 

Maracaibo 13 

The  Adventurers 16 

William  Dampier 17 

Basil  Ringrose 20 

Deodand 21 

Juan  Fernandez 22 

The  Great  Galleon 23 

The  Flying  Proa 26 

Pierre  le  Grand .•    .  27 

Roll-Call  of  the  Rogues 28 

Walking  the  Plank 31 

The  Auto  da  Fe 33 

[ix] 


PAGE 

Tortuga *. 35 

The  Bull  Fight 36 

The  Isle  of  Pines        37 

The  Calabozo     . 39 

The  Boucan 40 

Roncador  Reef t     .  41 

Green  Turtle 43 

Captain  Avery .  44 

The  Shark 45 

The  Sea  Wind 46 

The  Cayman 47 

The  Atoll 48 

The  Sallee  Rover 49 

The  Whale-Ship 50 

Vale!  52 


THE     BUCCANEERS 


Invitation 

Come  to  the  wide  gray  sea, 
Ye  who  are  brave  and  free! 
Come  to  the  Rover's  aid, 
Ye  who  are  unafraid! 


This  is  the  life  to  live, 
Ye  who  have  lives  to  give; 
Here  where  the  reckless  bold 
Garner  the  coward's  gold! 

Ne'er  such  a  harvest  field — 
Nowhere  so  great  a  yield — 
Here  on  the  wide  gray  sea. 
Come,  ye  bullies,  follow  me! 

[3] 


Credo 

We  drive  our  trade  with  the  burnished  blade, 
With  pistol,  powder,  and  ball — 

Necks  in  the  halter,  none  dare  to  falter — 
It's  conquer  or  chuck  it  all! 

Oh,  it's  heads  you  lose  and  tails  we  choose 
In  the  double  game  we  propose; 

The  yard-arms  cant  with  a  ready  slant 
To  welcome  the  running  noose! 

So  t  e  debt  is  paid  for  the  wager  laid 
'Tis  the  worst  with  us  that's  well — 

To  pay  for  the  right  to  a  ready  fight 
With  a  thousand  years  in  hell! 


[4] 


When   Henry  Morgan   Sails 

Ho!  Henry  Morgan  sails  to-day! 

The  trumpet  summons  the  volunteers. 
Hear  it  blare  across  the  bay, 

Sounding  a  call  to  the  Buccaneers! 


Reeling     they     come     down     the     Kingston 
street, 

Villains  of  deepest  sort — 
Babble  o'  tongues  and  curses  meet 

At  the  gateway  of  the  port. 

Ruck  and  riff  of  every  land 

From  Hull  to  the  Barbary  Coast, 

Pistol  in  belt,  dagger  in  hand, 
Ready  for  any  man's  boast. 

Rallied  for  risk  and  red  rapine, 
Fleeing  from  gibbet  and  cell, 
[Si 


Ragged,  scarred,  haggard,  and  lean, 
Hot  on  their  road  to  hell! 

Who's  to  care  if  none  return? 

The  fewer  the  better,  we  say! 
More  spoil  and  splendor  they  will  earn 

Whose  comrades  lose  their  way! 

Ho!  Henry  Morgan  sails  to-day 
To  harry  the  Spanish  main, 

With  a  pretty  bill  for  the  Dons  to  pay 
Ere  he  comes  back  again! 


6] 


Porto  Bello 

Nine  armed  sail  from  Port  Royal  Bay 
Creep  down  to  the  Spanish  main, 

To  loot  and  ravish  and  dearly  reap 
The  spoils  of  the  King  of  Spain. 

The  shores  are  steep  and  the  towers  strong, 
But  little  or  naught  care  they; 

The  golden  lure  is  a  certain  cure 

For  the  dangers  that  bar  the  way. 

So  all  ashore  to  the  stiff  assault 

'Gainst  cannon  and  arquebus  ball; 

Silver  and  women  for  those  who  win, 
And  perdition  for  those  who  fall! 

'Neath  showers  of  shot  and  boiling  oil 
The  priests  and  the  cowering  nuns 

Carry  the  ladders  to  make  the  breach 

Food  for  the  merciless  guns. 
2  [7l 


Crimson  rivulets  redden  the  tide 
That  flows  in  the  yellow  bay — 

Bay  of  the  name  of  God  not  now — 
Bay  of  the  devil  this  day. 

It's  over  at  last,  the  castle  falls, 

They  die  who  have  dared  defend: 

Greed  and  vengeance  collect  their  price, 
And  death  is  the  common  end. 

With  blade  at  throat  and  pistol  at  heart 
The  proud  old  governor  stands, 

Rather  to  die  than  yield  his  sword 
To  such  scoundrelly  outlaw  hands. 

Wife  at  right  and  daughter  at  left, 
Their  pleadings  are  in  vain — 

Mercy's  not  the  Buccaneer's  creed: 
He  tumbles  with  the  slain. 

The  drunken  beasts  in  the  gutters  roll, 
Or  wallow  in 'wine  and  gore: 
[8] 


Fifty  good  men  could  finish  them, 
But  the  men  are  here  no  more! 

The  hive  destroyed,  the  ships  creep  back 

Into  Port  Royal  Bay. 
With  rum  and  cards  in  Kingston  town 

The  wastrels  have  their  day! 


[9] 


Panama 

Twenty  leagues  of  jungle  and  hill, 
Torrent  and  tangle  bind  the  way 

Across  the  Isthmus  of  Panama 
From  Nombre  de  Dios  Bay. 

But  there's  treasure  ahead  with  a  town  to  sack — 
Think  of  this,  ye  rogues  who  would  fain  turn 
back! 

Halt!    None  retreat!    When  Morgan   leads, 
Danger  is  something  no  one  heeds! 

They  die  in  their  tracks  who  seek  to  flee 
From  perils,  unless  by  his  decree! 

Have  they  hoofs  and  horns?    By  our  damned 

souls!  no! 
They're  driving  wild  cattle  to  face  their  foe! 


Ho!  what  a  jest!     The  bulls  are  but  beef — 
A  meal  that's  needed  by  every  thief! 

Here's    smoke     and     flame     to    add    to     the 

zest— 
The  cowardly  Creoles  have  fir'd  their  nest! 

Too  late  for  saving  their  jewels  and  cash, 
So  quickly  our  rascals  have  made  the  dash 

From  sea  to  sea!    Across  the  world 
Death  and  destruction  swiftly  hurl'd 

'Gainst  the  old  city!     'Tis  a  hundred  years 
Since    Drake's     drum     fell     on    their    startled 
ears! 

Pack  the  spoil  and  back  on  the  road! 
All  he  can  carry,  each  man's  load! 

Ransoms  are  met  in  silver  and  gold 
For  women  and  children,  young  and  old. 

In] 


Prisoners  must  pay  or  endure  their  fate — 
Morgan  measures  mercy  in  pieces  of  eight. 

We  straggle  again  to  the  Eastern  shore, 
Never  with  Morgan  to  sail  the  more! 

Ho!  what  adventure  equal  to  this 
Since  Hernan  Cortes  burned  his  ships 
And  left  the  world  behind? 


[12] 


Maracaibo 

Neck  o'  the  bottle  tightly  corked, 

An'  we  all  shut  up  inside; 
Three  Spanish  ships  athwart  the  pass 

That  leads  to  the  ocean  wide. 

The  fortress  shows  its  iron  teeth— 
With    big    guns    grinning    along     the 
shore — 

Surrender  the  fleet!    The  signals  spell: 
Henry  Morgan  is  trapped  once  more! 

Our  cunning  Captain  tries  to  buy 

A  road  to  the  open  sea; 
But  bargains  hard  the  Dons  would  drive, 

So  we  fight  to  set  us  free. 

Against  the  Castile  Admiral 
We  send  a  fiery  ship; 


With  bombs  and  flame  we  bring  him  shame 
And  cause  his  flag  to  dip. 

Three  against  one  are  fearful  odds, 
Tho'  nothing  for  odds  care  we; 

They  sink  and  ground  till  none  remain, 
But  the  gate's  still  shut  to  the  sea. 

Now  a  trick  on  the  Spanish  dogs 
Our  cunning  Captain  planned, 

Debarking  men  in  open  boats 
To  tackle  the  fort  on  land! 

Crowded  they  row  to  the  muddy  shore; 

Back  empty  they  seem  to  go — 
The  crews  are  tucked  beneath  the  thwarts, 

And  the  same  pull  to  and  fro! 

Then  guns  are  turned  from  the  seaward  side 
To  meet  the  assault  on  shore — 

So  danger  departs  from  the  narrow  strait 
And  Morgan  is  free  once  more! 


With  a  trumpet's  toot  and  a  mocking  hoot 
We  sail  past  the  toothless  hold, 

All  hands  aboard  with  scratchless  skins, 
Our  pockets  stuffed  with  gold! 


The  Adventurers 

We  are  the  men  who  widen  the  world; 
We  sail  'neath  a  flag  that's  never  furl'd. 
Storm  and  shine  are  the  same  to  we 
Who  seek  our  fortunes  over  the  sea! 

Face  toward  risk  and  back  against  home, 
We  welcome  peril  where'er  we  roam; 
With  hearts  unafraid  and  hands  on  steel, 
We  drive  our  way  with  a  throbbing  keel! 

Reefless  our  sails  in  the  eager  search, 
Leaving  the  weaklings  to  lie  in  the  lurch! 
Heedless  we  live  and  lightly  we  die 
For  the  wealth  we  give  our  souls  to  buy! 

We  the  daring  who  open  the  world, 
Who  sail  'neath  a  flag  that's  never  furl'd, 
Who  laugh  with  scorn  at  the  angry  sea 
And  challenge  fate  whatever  it  be! 
[16] 


William  Dampier 

Swart  sailor  of  the  Seven  Seas — 
Bold   marker  of  the  trail, 

Who  left  behind  the  lands  of  ease 
With  seldom  shortened  sail. 

From  silver  shores  to  golden  isles 
Across  the  unknown  main, 

Waylaying  galleons  'tween  the  whiles 
And  taking  toll  from  Spain! 

The  Jolly  Roger  waves  apeak, 

With  skull  and  cross-bones  drear: 

The  powder's  short,  the  ship's  aleak! 
What  cares  the  Buccaneer? 

With  steadfast  eyes  he  views  the  skies, 
Fearless  of  God  and  man; 


Black  as  the  night  his  banner  flies — 
Escape  him,  ye  who  can! 

* 'Pieces  of  Eight,"  early  and  late, 
Is  the  chant  of  the  wolfish  crew. 

Daring  for  plunder  every  fate 

While  finding  a  world  that's  new, 

Looking  for  wealth  on  the  ocean  range, 
Reddening  the  emerald  sea, 

Blood  for  jewels  in  fair  exchange 

Give  the  Brotherhood  of  the  Free! 

Only  a  plank  'twixt  life  and  death, 
Tossed  on  the  great  South  Sea! 

Blade  o'  cutlass  out  of  its  sheath 
The  warrant  for  things  to  be! 

Gallows  and  stake  and  musket  ball 
Are  wages  of  those  who  fail! 

There's  many  another  ready  to  fall, 
And  plenty  o'  more  to  hail! 


Riot  and  rum  and  a  brief  delight 

Are  the  most  that  the  pirate  wins; 

Life  o'  strife  and  follow  and  fight 
Till  he  pays  in  full  for  his  sins! 

But  charts  are  laid  and  paths  are  made 
Where  ships  in  peace  may  run! 

The  road  is  clear  for  honest  trade 
When  Dampier's  work  is  done  ! 


Basil  Ringrose 

Laden  with  spoil  and  straggling  back 
From  a  foolish  raid  on  San  Pecaque, 

The  Spanish  horsemen  ride  them  down, 
Taking  price  for  loot  of  the  town! 

Laying  about  with  lance  and  whip, 
Cutting  off  retreat  to  the  ship! 

Among  the  killed,  relates  Dampier, 
Was  Basil  Ringrose,  the  Buccaneer — 

"My  ingenious  friend"  who  wrote  last  year 
"Of  Captain  Sharp"  and  sailed  in  the  fear 

That  he  would  starve  in  London  City — 
So  good  a  fellow,  more's  the  pity! 

Sailors  should  stick  to  the  sea,  say  I — 
They  bungle  on  land  whatever  they  try! 

[20] 


Deodand 

When  a  wolf  dies,  the  pack  divides 
His  carcass  among  the  band; 

So  it  is  with  a  Buccaneer 

When  his  goods  are  deodand. 

Empty  his  chest  upon  the  deck! 

Let's  see  what  the  fool's  been  saving: 
A  pack  of  cards,  an  extra  shirt, 

And  a  kit  of  tools  for  shaving! 

Here's  something  more  in  secret  store: 

A  ringlet;  of  dusky  hair — 
A  portrait,  too,  of  a  little  girl — 

The  knave  had  a  heart  somewhere! 


Juan  Fernandez 

Sulky  and  sullen, 

Dour  and  Scotch, 
Sandy  Selkirk 

Refuses  his  watch. 

Set  him  ashore 

With  the  goats  and  seals, 
Flintlock  and  powder, 

To  hunt  for  his  meals! 

He  can  gnaw  the  rocks 

When  his  shot  gives  out— 

The  pig-headed,  shirking, 
Lubberly  lout! 


[22] 


The  Great  Galleon 

Millions  of  pesos  in  her  hold, 
Silks  and  spices  precious  as  gold. 

Half  a  thousand  men  in  the  crew — 
Soldiers  and  seamen,  gallants  a  few. 

A  score  of  priests  and  a  dozen  nuns, 
Saying  their  matins  between  the  guns. 

Crowded  from  deck  to  the  deep-down  keel, 
Armed  to  the  teeth  with  cannon  and  steel. 

She  lies  in  the  water  logy  and  low, 
The  Manila  ship  for  Acapulco. 

Hawks  of  the  sea,  the  adventurers  lie 
In  ambush,  waiting  her  sails  to  spy. 
4  [23] 


They've  come  half  around  the  world  and  more 
To  filch  the  treasures  from  Philip's  store. 

Anson's  one  ship  battered  and  sere — 
Her  seams  part  open,  and  hard  to  steer. 

A  famished  band  in  a  rotten  bark 

To  make  a  stand  'gainst  the  Spanish  ark! 

Never  much  of  a  crew  at  the  best, 
Storms  and  scurvy  finished  the  rest. 

Now  in  a  flutter  of  hopes  and  fears 
The  flag  of  the  galleon  great  appears. 

Named  for  a  saint  and  sent  in  her  care, 
The  perils  of  ocean  and  pirate  to  dare. 

Sore  need  of  a  saint!    Now  Anson  slips 
And  starts  the  battle  between  the  ships. 

Leaves  his  last  anchor:    in  desperate  straits 
They  fight  the  foe,  while  the  hangman  waits. 

124] 


Hope  behind:   if  their  venture  fail, 
Never  a  man  again  will  sail. 

The  drums  are  beat  and  the  masses  are  said 
For  the  souls  of  the  Spaniards  ere  they're  dead! 

It  is  saving  time,  as  the  fight  turns  out — 
Nuestra  Senora  surrenders  in  rout! 

The  millions  are  ours — the  silks  and  the  gold! 
Our  fortunes  are  made  in  the  galleon's  hold! 


[25 


The  Flying   Proa 

The  Ladrones  flit  between  the  isles 

In  a  singular  sort  of  a  boat: 
Swift  as  the  breeze  she  measures  the  miles, 

A  cockle-shell  dancing  afloat. 

Ropes  of  coir  and  sail  of  bark, 

She  shuttles  across  the  sea: 
Swift  and  sure  they  build  this  ark 

From  the  trunk  of  a  cocoanut  tree! 

Rigged  lateen  and  low  in  the  foam, 

She  never  is  sent  about; 
In  the  eye  of  the  wind  she  makes  for  home, 

This  racer  both  frail  and  stout. 

Six  leagues  an  hour  is  easy  sail 

In  the  trade-wind's  cheery  blow — 

Ere  the  gun  can  crack  she's  out  of  hail 
And  safe  from  our  poky  Snow. 
[26] 


-fl 


Pierre  It  Grand 

Pierre  le  Grand  in  an  open  boat 

Put  out  from  Tortuga  to  seize — 

With  thirty  comrades,  scarce  able  to  float — 
The  first  ship  to  come  on  the  breeze. 

High  and  dark,  a  Spanish  bark 

Crested  the  foaming  tide: 
Strong  at  their  oars  the  pirates  hark 

And  lay  themselves  'longside. 

While  they  grapple  the  chains  in  a  silent  grip, 
The  doctor  with  auger  and  brace 

Bores  holes  in  their  craft;  they  leap  to  the  ship- 
She  vanishes,  leaving  no  trace. 

"They  come  from  the  sky!"  scream  the  terrified 

crew, 

Who  are  prisoners  e'er  they  can  think, 
Clapped  in  the  hold,  the  many  by  few, 
And  their  wine  we  merrily  drink! 
[27] 


Roll-Call  of  the  Rogues 

Wash  the  decks! 

Send  the  dead  to  their  graves 

Down    with    the    sharks    in    the    dancing 

waves! 
Call  the  roll  of  the  Rogues! 

Let's  know  what  it  cost 

For  this  beggarly  prize — 

An  hour  of  battle  arid  twenty  stout  lives! 

Call  the  roll  of  the  Rogues! 

Line  up  on  the  deck, 

All  ye  who  can  stand, 

Bearing  a  blade  or  pistol  in  hand! 

Call  the  roll  of  the  Rogues! 

Look  over  the  lot 

Whose  lurking  lives 

[28] 


Are   spent   in   the   trade   where    plund'ring 

drives ! 
Call  the  roll  of  the  Rogues! 

Now  all  are  here! 

In  shortest  rhyme 

We'll  see  who  the  devil  excused  this  time! 

Call  the  roll  of  the  Rogues! 

"One-Eyed  Pete  and  Maltese  Joe, 
Who  killed  the  woman  long  ago — 
He's  done  worse  since,  so  never  mind: 
This  isn't  a  calling  that  makes  one  kind! 

"Bristol  Bill  and  Mike  the  Mouse, 
Turtle  Dick  and  Jemmy  the  Louse — 
Four  fine  samples  of  forecastle  thieves 
Off  to  the  Pit,  while  no  one  grieves. 

"Gold-Coast  Sam  and  Krooman  Jack, 
Snakes  from  a  slaver,  stalwart  and  black — 
Scar-Fac'd  Will  and  Dublin  Hugh, 
Both  show  you  had  work  to  do! 

[29] 


"A  split  in  the  skull  marks  Jimmy  Legs, 
And  Ten-Dollar  Joe  for  the  doctor  begs: 
Take  turn  with  the  rest,  you  Portugee! 
While  the  medico  mends  poor  Harry  Lee! 

"Some  have  real  names,  the  rest  forgot 
Who  bore  them  long  ere  it  fell  their  lot 
To  sail  with  a  Pirate;    now  names  are  few, 
And  almost  any  call  will  do." 

What's  the  use  going  on? 
Enough  are  alive 

To  help  a  black -flag  cruiser  thrive! 
End  the  call  of  the  Rogues! 


[30] 


Walking  the  Plank 

Walking  the  plank  is  a  short  parade, 

A  ready  road  out  of  life. 
The  step  to  the  end  is  easily  made, 

So  take  it  and  raise  no  strife! 

Life's  but  a  toss  for  a  bit  of  gold — 

You've  lost  your  throw,  we've  won! 

The  water  is  green  as  grass  on  a  grave; 
Make  the  leap  and  begone! 

The  die  was  cast  with  loaded  dice, 
You  knew  your  fate  before. 

No  use  to  plead,  death  is  decreed — 
A  splash,  and  'twill  all  be  o'er! 

It's  cool  and  quiet  beneath  the  wave 
Down  in  the  sparkling  sea; 


A  ripple  or  two  and  bubbles  a  few, 

And  your  troubles  will  cease  to  be! 

They  tell  no  tales  who  walk  the  plank, 
The  pirate  no  tale-bearer  owns; 

Tilt  the  board  on  end,  and  quickly  send 
The  tattler  to  Davy  Jones! 


[32] 


The  Auto   da  Fe 

Fee!    Ft!    Fol    Fuml 

They  smell  the  blood  of  an  Englishman! 

Caught  in  the  fight  and  kept  in  jail 

By  the  Holy  Inquisition, 
Now  tied  to  a  stake 
In  a  circle  of  brands. 

Awaiting  their  ignition! 

Not  a  saint  he!    Not  he,  indeed — 

Only  a  Corsair  in  desperate  need, 

Who  looks  his  last  on  the  world  to-day, 

While  the  mumbling  friars  watch  and  pray! 

Pray  for  a  soul  that  was  long  since  lost, 
Waving  before  him  the  sanctified  host! 
Chanting  the  Miserere  in  sing-song  Latin, 
Saying  the  mass  for  the  dead  as  a  matin! 

[33] 


Cap  of  a  fool  on  his  shaven  head, 
Decked  with  devils  dancing  in  red, 
Garbed  to  his  feet  in  a  yellow  gown, 
Gaped  at  and  hooted  by  all  the  town! 

A    flash  of  the  match,  and  flames  ascend, 

Curling  about  the  body  they  rend; 

A  cry  and  crackle  together  resound 

While  the  smoke  cloud  rises  above  the  ground! 

So  goes  aloft  the  Pirate's  soul 

'Mid  pious  hopes  for  a  better  goal — 

Better  by  far  than  in  life  it  earned — 

"  Saved  "  by  the  prayers  it  always  spurned  ! 


34 


Tortuga 

Mounseer  Bertran  d'Ogeron 

Comes  from  the  King  of  France 

To  rule  the  Isle  of  Tortuga: 
He's  in  for  a  merry  dance! 

To  rule  the  Isle  of  Tortuga 

Is  not  an  easy  chance. 
The  King  of  Spain  has  tried  in  vain — 

Here's  luck  to  the  King  of  France! 

Kings  of  the  Isle  of  Tortuga 
Are  we  who  rule  the  main; 

Nothing  to  us  but  feathers  and  fuss 
Are  Kings  of  France  and  Spain! 

The  sudden  sword  and  the  heavy  hand 
Are  crown  and  scepter  here 

In  this  our  Isle  of  Tortuga — 

Naught  else  of  Kings  to  fear! 

[35] 


The  Bull  Fight 

Little  black  specks  a  mile  in  the  sky 
Hang  over  the  Plaza  de  Toros: 

The  buzzards  come  to  be  in  at  the  death 
When  the  bull  falls  down  before  us. 

They  know  the  day  and  the  very  hour 

When  the  picador  vaults  from  the  ring 

And  the  matador's  blade  will  end  the  strife, 
And  the  bloody  meal  it  will  bring! 

So  "Viva  el  Toro!"  so  long  as  he  lasts 
With  the  pitiless,  torturing  crew; 

He's  a  braver  beast  than  the  scampering  brutes 
Who  at  his  heart  and  shoulders  hew! 


The  Isle  of  Pines 

Set  the  course  for  the  Isle  of  Pines! 

Pleasure  place  of  the  Pirate's  play; 
Here  life's  laid  on  pleasant  lines 

To  make  a  Robber's  holiday. 

The  Carib  women  have  teeth  like  pearls, 

The  rum  casks  open  wide; 
There's  joy  ahead  for  the  crew  that  furls 

Its  sails  by  the  Island's  side. 

Bottle  and  barrel  flow  free  for  all, 
Music  and  maids  to  dance — 

It's  open  house  at  the  Buccaneers'  ball, 
Where  every  beau  has  a  chance! 

Revel  in  silks  and  wantonness, 
Scatter  the  jewels  and  gold, 

Drown  all  your  cares  in  drunkenness — 
Remember  we're  growing  old! 

[37] 


Finery  and  frills  go  with  the  game; 

We're  dandies  until  we  are  dead! 
Moth  and  candle  unite  in  the  flame; 

The  future  harbors  no  dread! 

When  purses  have  shrunk  we  sail  in  array 
From  the  joyous  Isle  of  Pines, 

To  fill  them  again  on  the  great  highway, 
Then  return  to  its  gay  confines! 


[38] 


The    Calabozo 

Bed  of  stone,  and  nothing  to  eat 
Save  what  you  buy  of  the  rascal  cheat 
Of  an  Alcalde,  who  grinds  the  face 
Of  every  prisoner  in  the  place — 

Coatless,  shirtless,  out  at  the  knees, 
Covered  with  grime,  bitten  by  fleas! 
Starve  while  you  stay,  die  when  you  go— 
This  the  doom  of  the  Calabozo! 


39] 


The  Boucan 

Salt  and  smoke  and  a  turning  spit, 
These  are  the  tools  we  ply, 

Curing  cattle  into  beef, 

Making  the  red  meat  dry. 

Shoot  and  carve  from  dawn  till  dark, 
Winding  the  boucan  over — 

Not  work  for  men  of  the  nicest  caste, 
But  fits  the  wild  sea  rover. 

Matchlock  and  fork,  and  slave  or  two, 
Cruising  the  wide  savannah, 

Bulls  and  porkers  we  gather  in 
To  market  in  Havannah. 

When  swine  and  kine  run  low  awhile, 
Give  pistol  and  cutlass  play — 

Pockets  to  fill  on  the  ocean, 

Instead  o'  this  humdrum  way! 
[40] 


Roncador  Reef 

Roncador  Reef  lies  low  in  the  surf 

That  curls  on  its  coral  edge. 
It  lures  the  ships  to  its  black  embrace, 

And  they  break  their  bones  on  the  ledge. 

'Tis  a  pitiless  port  for  missing  barques, 
Half  hid  in  the  seething  tide, 

Littered  with  plank  of  shattered  craft 

And  the  skulls  of  men  who  have  died! 

It  reckons  its  wrecks  by  the  double  score, 

This  isle  of  the  lost  maroon, 
Barren  of  green  save  for  seaweed  drift 

Aglow  in  the  tropic  noon. 

Sun  and  sea  and  sky  combine 

To  blot  out  life  from  the  rock; 

The  day  orb  glows  like  a  ball  of  fire, 
And  at  night  the  pale  stars  mock. 


So  sail  to  the  south  of  Roncador 
On  the  tack  to  Campeche  Bay! 

Widen  the  course  beyond  the  reef — 
Keep  your  keel  off  the  cay! 


[42] 


Green   Turtle 

Callipash  and  Callipee— 

King!  here's  a  dish  that's  fit  for  theel 

Tender  green  fat  from  under  the  shell, 
Stewed  in  its  juice  with  some  sherry, 

Served  while  hot  with  anything — well, 
Bring  in  the  port  and  make  merry! 

Callipash  and  Callipee — 

King  I  here's  a  dish  that's  made  for  theel 


43] 


Captain  Avety 

Cruising  in  the  Indian  Sea, 
Captain  Avery's  fleet  of  three 
Fell  athwart  the  Mogul's  ship, 
Fitted  for  a  wedding  trip — 
Princess  fair  of  Pondicherry, 
Journeying  some  Prince  to  marry — 
Laden  with  rubies,  diamonds,  and  pearls, 
And  more  than  twelvescore  Hindoo  girls! 
Such  a  bevy  and  such  a  prize 
Never  gladdened  a  Pirate's  eyes! 
Dark-eyed  maids  of  Trich'nopoli, 
Behold  what  bridegrooms  come  to  thee! 


[44 


The  Shark 

Shovel-nose  and  hammer-head, 
Alike  they  fatten  on  the  dead! 

Blue  fins  circling  about  the  ship, 
They  lap  the  blood  with  an  eager  lip! 

Buzzard  on  land  and  shark  in  sea 
Always  know  where  the  fight's  to  be! 

They  scent  the  battle  from  afar, 
And  spread  the  tidings  ill  of  war! 


[45] 


The  Sea  Wind 

Saint  lago,  send  thee  fair 

Wind  of  the  Southern  Sea; 

Come  to  us  gently,  Air, 
Soft  to  the  lee. 

Not  the  harsh  hurricane 
Hurled  at  the  mast, 

Driving  to  Bay  Biscayne 
Before  the  blast. 

These  are  the  summer  seas, 
Free  from  all  harm; 

West  blows  the  pleasant  breeze, 
Moistly  and  warm! 

So  shall  we  safely  glide 

Into  our  goal, 
Borne  on  the  even  tide, 

Behind  the  mole! 

[46] 


The  Cayman 

The  Cayman  lurks  in  the  tropic  swamp, 

Buried  in  mud  and  slime; 
He  stretches  his  paws  and  tongueless  jaws 

When  it  comes  his  feeding  time. 

Beware  ye  then  of  his  mighty  bite — 
When  closed,  it  never  lets  go! 

The  Cayman  dark  on  land  is  a  shark, 
A  deadly,  doughty  foe! 

Tender  or  tough,  all  flesh  is  the  same 
That  falls  to  his  fearful  fangs. 

He  strikes  with  his  tail  like  a  giant  flail 
And  endeth  his  victim's  pangs! 


[47 


The  Atoll 

Oasis  in  the  desert  depths, 
Circle  of  coral  and  pearl! 

Roundabout  the  calm  lagoon, 
Agirt  with  a  silver  swirl! 

Raised  by  an  insect  seeking  light, 

Which  dies  when  it  finds  the  day, 

The  barriers  rise  to  the  ocean's  edge 
And  with  the  breakers  play! 

Eden  is  here,  and  paradise — 

Slender  and  tall  the  cocoas  stand, 

Waving  their  long  arms  welcomely, 

Rooted  deep  in  the  narrow  strand! 

To  sea-sore  eyes  comes  strange  relief! 

Here,  indeed,  is  Hesperides — 
Rest  at  last  from  the  combing  waves, 

And  hours  of  slumbrous  ease! 

[48] 


The  Sallee  Rover 

Swarthy  Moors  with  glittering  eyes, 
Eager  to  grasp  the  luckless  prize — 
We  who've  sailed  the  wide  seas  over 
Fall  the  prey  of  a  Sallee  rover! 

Heathen  hounds  who  would  cut  a  throat 
Lightly  as  we  could  scuttle  a  boat; 
Better  die  now  than  die  thrice  over 
Shackled  slaves  of  the  Sallee  rover! 

Lash  and  load  are  the  fate  one  fears, 
Sold  in  the  market  at  Algiers: 
Death  near  life  doth  always  hover 
In  the  path  of  a  Sallee  rover! 


[49] 


The  Whale-Ship 

Creaking  masts  and  a  rusty  prow, 
Greasy  decks  and  shape  of  a  scow, 
Tattered  sails  and  rickety  ropes, 
Cargo  mainly  of  shattered  hopes! 

The  whale -ship  rolls  in  the  tropic  swell, 
Likened  most  to  a  floating  hell! 
Hunting  her  prey  in  the  glassy  tide, 
Chasing  the  sperm  o'er  the  ocean  wide! 

Beef  that's  bone,  and  pork  that's  salt 
As  the  sea  that  rolls  'neath  the  starry  vault, 
Biscuit  like  rock  and  duff  like  dough — 
Nothing  to  do  but  to  starve  and  row! 

Years  from  home,  years  yet  to  stay, 
Without  a  port  to  rest  on  the  way — 
Wearisome  work  for  the  weary  crew, 
Ugly  and  yearning  for  something  new. 
[50] 


Longing  in  vain  for  the  sunny  isles, 
The  maids  of  Tahiti  and  their  wiles! 
Palms  and  pleasures  no  more  for  they 
Who  bind  themselves  to  the  whaleman's  way! 


Vale! 

Skull  and  bones  no  longer  fly — 
Steam  and  screw  the  reason  why. 

Peaceful  commerce  goes  its  way, 
Buccaneers  have  had  their  day. 

Seas  are  safe  from  shore  to  shore, 
Wild  adventure  rules  no  more. 

We,  unchanged,  again  would  brave 
Desperate  chances  of  the  wave: 

Coal  from  the  mine,  not  breath  of  sea, 
Takes  the  ocean  from  the  free — 

From  the  bold  who  where  they  would 
Wandered,  took  whatever  they  could — 

[52] 


Man  'gainst  man  and  gun  'gainst  gun, 
Heedless  of  another  sun! 

Yet  the  tale  still  lives,  and  will, 
Carrying  with  it  yet  the  thrill 

Of  fierce  joy  that  reckless  deeds 
Rouse  in  the  mind  of  him  who  reads! 


LD2l-100m-7,'39(402S) 


263676 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


